Tank car



P. KLEMOFF July 12, 1927.

:TANK CAR Filed Feb. 10. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 12, 1927.

P. KLEMOFF TANK CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10. 1926 I- val/"111,11

P. KLEMOFF July 12, 1927.

TANK CAR Filed Feb. 10. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL KLEMOFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL AMERICAN TANK GAR CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

TANK can.

Application filed February 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,364.

My invention relates, as to one feature thereof, to tank cars for transporting inflammable fluids which, while in the tank, usually generate relatively great vapor pressure. In such constructions an open dome with a removable and replaceable cover therefor, is provided, which cover, prior to the removal of the fluid from the tank, is required to be removed from the dome, it being essential that the vapor pressure which may have beconie generated in the tank be relieved before the cover is removed, else the cover, upon releasing the fastening devices therefor, may be blown, by the generated vapor pressure, from the dome with consequent danger of damage to the workmen and to the equipment and loss of the commodity in the tank by being blown therefrom.

My invention also relates as to another features thereof, to tank cars of the insulated dome type, and more particularly to the joint between the manhole-frame and the dome-head, it being highly desirable that this joint be made suiiicient'ly tight to positively preclude passage therethrough of water flowing upon the dome, or over-spilling fluid from the tank, in order that damage to the insulation from the water and the creation of fire hazard from the insulation becoming soaked with inflammable fluid spilling over from the tank, may be avoided.

My objects are to provide a construction of tank car wherein the blowing of the cover from the dome, in the releasing of the cover, by the pressure of vapor generated in the tank will be avoided; to provide a construction whereby the cover cannot be removed from the dome until, and unless, the vapor pressure which may have become generated therein has vented from the tank; to provide a construction wherein the joint between the manhole-frame and the dome-head will be rendered fluid-tight; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawingsz- Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of the dome portion of a tank car in which my invention is incorporated. Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken at the irregular line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the inner surface of the upwardly extending central annular flange of ted; and Figure 6, a. plan view of the dome cover.

The dome structure illustrated comprises a cylindrical side-wal'l-forming shell 10 connected at its upper edge, as by the rivets 11, with the depending annular flange 12 of a dome-head 13 containing a centralized opening 14 therein, the dome also comprising a manhole-frame 15 shown as of circular shape and formed with an upwardly extending annular flange 16 at the central opening 17 therethrough. The circumferential marginal portion of the frame 15 is shown as lapping the inner annular marginal portion of the dome-head 13 to which portion it is rigidly secured, as by the rivets 18. The construction shown is of a type in which the dome is thermally insulated by insulation represented at 19 which extends entirely around the side wall 10 and over the dome-head 13, in the space between these parts and an outer, jacket, member shown as formed of a cylindrical sheet metal side-wall-forming portion 20 provided at its upper edge with a ring 21 of angle shape in cross-section, this ring being secured to the upper edge of the member 20 by rivets 22 and at its horizontal flange 23 with dome-jacket-head 24 connected at its inner annular marginal portion 25 with the manhole-frame 15 to form a tight joint between these parts. This tight joint 1s produced by providing in the upper surface of the frame 15, adjacent the flange 16, annular grooves 26 and 27 toreceive gaskets 28 and 29, respectively, of any suitable composition impervious to, and unafi'ectable by, water, or such fluids as may be carried in the tank, the inner edge 25 of the jacket head 24 overlying the gasket 29. A flashing-ring 30, preferably of steel, is positioned to extend over, and contact with, the gasket 28 and the portion 25 of the head, this rin be'n pressed downwardly against the gasket and head ortion 25 by screws 31 passing throng the ring and into the manholeframe 15. The ring 30 is preferably so formed as toxpresent the downwardl projecting edge portions 32 and 33, the former becoming embedded in the gasket 26 and the latter snugly fitting the underlying portion 25 of the head 24.

The dome cover is represented at 34: and is shown as provided with a depending annular flange 35 inset from the circumferential marginal portion 36 of the cover which latter is shown as provided with an annular gasket 37 at which it is adapted to seat upon the flange portion 16 of the frame 15, as shown. The means shown for releasably securing the cover 34 in closed position on the dome comprise a circumferei'itial series of flap-bolts carried by the frame 15 and extending at their eye portions 39 into pockets it) provided in this trame and radiating from the center therefrom, these bolts being pivoted on pivoting bolts ll secured in lugs defining the pockets 40. These flapbolts, which are thus adapted to be swung into and out of upwardly extending position, align with radially-extendiug outwardlyopcning slots l3 provided in the portion 36 of the cover 34:, when this cover is seated on the dome in the position hereinafter de scribed, the dome 3d being forced into tight- 'oint-forming position relative to the dome y the nuts H on the outer ends of the bolts 38, it being preferred that the cover 3% be provided with the beads 45, adjacent the slotted portions 43 to eliminate any possible danger of accidental disengagement of the bolts 38 from the cover 34.

Cooperating with the frame 15 and the cover 34: are means whereby should the bolts 38 be manipulated to cover-releasing position, while the tank of which the dome is a part, contains an appreciable amount of vapor pressure, the cover will be restrained from becoming blown off the dome. These means in accordance with the preferred illustrated embodiment of my invention comprise a series of outwardly-entendi11g lugs 46, shown as three in number, though the number thereof may be varied as desired, provided on the depending flange of the cover and cooperating with sets of stopforming portions, the sets of which correspond in number with the number of lugs &6. The sets of stop-forming portions, one set thereof being shown in Fig. 3, are, in the particular construction shown, provided by forming upon the inner surface of the flange 16 adjacent its upper edge, a circumferential series of ribs 47, these ribs being spaced apart at their adjacent ends to provide the space 48, as represented of two of the adjacent ribs in Fig. 3. The corresponding end of each rib 4:7 is extended downwardly and thence circumferentially and again downwardly, as represented at 49, and 51, re spectively, and the other end portions of these ribs, at portions thereof offset from the extremities thereof, depend, as represented at 52 and 53, with the lower edge of the portion 54 located therebetween, extending below the lower edge of the main portion of the rib. The provision of the ribs, as stated, is such as to provide the stop-forming surfaces 55 and 56 in different vertical planes and the zigzag passage 57 through which the lug 46 is required to be moved in the rotation of the cover to a Josition in which the lugs 46 extend directly cneath the stop-surfaces 55 and to a position in which these lugs are released from interlocking engagement with the ribs, the various portions of the structure described, being so proportioned and arranged, that the slots 43 in the cover 34; register with the flap-bolts 38 only when the lugs 46 extend beneath the stop-surfaces 55 as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that should the operator release the bolts 38 from engagement with the cover 34, while an appreciable amount of vapor pressure exists in the tank, the cover will be forced upwardly to a position in which its lugs d6 engage the stop surfaces 55, thereby preventing the cover from being blown off. As soon as the cover becomes unseated, the pressure in the tank escapes therefore through the dome around the cover, primarily through the zigzag passage 57. In this raised position of the cover the stop portions 52 prevent rotation of the cover to released position, but as soon as the pressure in the tank becomes sufliciently reduced to produce no harm, the cover may be removed from the dome by a succession of turning and lifting movements to pass the lugs 46 through the zigzag passages 57, as will be readily understood.

The stop surfaces 51 are provided for cooperation with the lugs 46 to prevent rotation of the cover, in its application to the dome, beyond a position in which the lugs 46 extend directly beneath the stop-surfaces 55. The zigzag portions, each composed of the portions 49, 50 and 51, are provided to ensure the rotation of the cover by the operator in the proper direction for eventually positioning the lugs 46 beneath the stop-surfaces 55 as stated and to prevent the operator from rotating the cover, While material vapor pressure exists in the tank, to a position in which the lugs 46 extend directly beneath the openings 48, the lugs 46 when abutting the portions 51 extend directly beneath the stop surfaces 56.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that should the operator bear down on the cover with suflicient pressure to depress it below the lugs 52, against the vapor pressure in the tank, and simultanedegree, will ously rotate the cover in a direction to disengage it from the dome, the lugs 46 will strike the stop portions 51 so that should the operator then discontinue downward pressure on the cover, the vapor pressure, if not by that time released to a harmless force the cover upwardly against the stop surfaces 56 requirlng further turning movement of the cover by the operator and the lifting of the cover to remove it from the dome. The succession of bearing down and turning movements referred to required to be given to the cover before it may be lifted free of the dome, ensures the release of the vapor pressure from the tank to such degree that it is rendered ineffective to blow the cover from the dome by the time the lugs 46 become positioned in vertical alignment with the passages 48.

It is usual in tank cars to provide a safetyvalve in the dome portion and where such safety valve is provided at an insulated portion of the head, it is desirable that the joint between the jacket-forming portion of the dome and the safety valve be of such construction as to exclude the access of liquid to the insulating material. In the arrangement shown a safety valve is provided as stated, and to this end the head 13 is apertured as represented at 58 at which aperture a flanged collar 59 is rigidly secured as by the rivets 60, this collar being internally threaded, at its upper end, as indicated at 61 to screw into the lower threaded reduced end 62 of the safety-valve proper 59 which may be of any desirable and wellknown construction. The jacket-head 24 contains an openin 63 therethrough to receive the upper end of the collar 59 which latter is surrounded b a sleeve 64 extending substantially flush with the upper edge of the collar 59 and having tight-joint connection with the body portion of the head 24. The sleeve 64 may be made either integrally with the body portion of the head 24 by pressing the metal to form such sleeve, or, if

desired, may be made as a part separate from the head 24 and welded, or otherwise suit ably securgl to the latter. As a means of protecting the joint between the collar 64 and the sleeve 59 I provide askirted ring 65- which is rigidly clamped in place between the annular flange 66 of the safety-valve proper 59 and the upper end of'the collar 59, upon screwing the safety-valve proper. into place, to thereby form a tight joint between these parts, the skirted portion 67 of the ring 65 extending downwardly over the upper end of the sleeve 64 and operating to shed the water away from the joint.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without ,depart-ing'from the spirit of my invention.

.VVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A tank car having a dome portion comprisin a dome-head presenting an opening, .a man hole frame surrounding said opening and secured to said head adjacent the opening therein, a dome-jacket spaced from said dome-head and having a portion at which it is connected with said frame, said jacket and head being spaced apart to form a chamber for insulating material,'and said frame containing annular grooves, gaskets in said grooves, the outer one of said gaskets being lapped by said jacket, a flashing-ring engaging the other of said gaskets and said jacket,

and means for holding said ring in place.

2. A tank car having a dome portion comprising a dome-head presenting an opening, .a manhole-frame surrounding said opening and secured to said head adjacent the opening therein, a dome-jacket spaced from said dome-head and having a portion at which it is connected with said frame, said jacket and head being spaced apart to form a chamber for insulating material, and said frame containing inner and outer annular grooves, gaskets in said grooves, the outer one of said gaskets being lapped by said jacket, a flashing ring engaging the other of said gaskets and said jacket, and means for holding said ring in place, said ring having a downward- 1y,projecting edge portion at which it enga es said last-referred-to gasket for embe ment therein. 

